Eeginald h



(No Model.)

R. H; EARLE.

V APPARATUS FOR. RAISING AND LOWERING BOATS.

Patentd' Jan. 101' 1 88 Z.

TOR:

I wmmssnw 10m ATTOimBYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

REGINALD H. EARLE, or sr. JOHNS, NEWFOUNDLAND.

APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWER ING BOATS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent I\ To. 252,198, dated January 10, 1852.

' 2 Application filed October 1-2, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom itmay concern Be it known that I, REGINALD H. EARLE,

the lowering of boats from vessels under both ordinary and exceptional circumstances and to avoid the risk of the boats being swamped and overturned. Further, the object is to provide for this purpose an apparatus which shall not occupy unusualspace nor prevent the use of the ordinary davits;

My improved apparatus consists of a swinging frame and gravity-cradle for carrying the boat bodily, and these are combined with (lav its in such manner that either can be used independently, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view, showing the apparatus in the lowered position. Fig. 2 is a side view looking from inboard of the apparatus in the raised position, and Fig. 3 is a side view showing the davits in us The apparatus is shown as applied at the for ward part of the deck A but in practice the 7 position may be as most convenient.

B B are stands fixed on the deck at a suitable distance apart and constructed preferably in the double form shown-that is, of two stands or plates placed side by side, with space between for the davits.

- O O are davits, attached by pivot pins or bolts a to the stands 3, so that they may swing in and out a'distance limited by their lower ends taking against cross-bolts of the stands.

b b are dogs pivoted .on stands B, and provided with handles for their operation to clamp the davits in their inboard or upright position. D is the swinging frame, consisting of arms o 6, attached at their inner ends by knuckle:

jointed connections 01 to the side of the vessel and braced by cross-bars e. The arms a are bent to carry their outer ends over upon the deck, and the frame is of a width to pass beforming part of this specification, in

tween the stands B when raised, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. 1. I,

'E is the cradle, consisting of hooks ff, hung by joint-pins g to the outer ends of arms a, and connected at their outer ends by cross-bars h, that form a suitable support for the boat. On the inner ends of the hooksf there are double eyes It, to which blocks '5 are attached, and from these blocks ropes I pass to similar blocks, m, on the ends of davits O O. This tackle serves for raising and lowering the frame D with the cradle E.

On the stands B levers n arehung, and the.

levers are provided with projecting pins 'n, which, when the levers are raised, pass through apertures in the stands and in the arms 0 c for retaining the frame D in the raised position. On outer bar, 6, of the swinging frame are slideso 0, provided with pins for engaging apertured lugs 19 on the hooks f, so as to retain the cradle in connection with the frame D and prevent the cradle from swinging out.

In the raised position of the apparatus the boat rests in the cradle, which is entirely inboard, ready for use, and ropes g from eyes at the outside pass over the boat and are connected to hooks r on the lower ends of the levers n. The movement of raising levers n to lock the frame tightens the ropes, while the reverse movement relieves the ropes.

The apparatus is operated as follows: To

lower a loaded boat the levers n are moved out, and the boat is retained in the level position by gravity. The outward movement of the cradle is assisted and sudden oscillations prevented by the strain of the ropes attached to the upper ends of the cradle-hooks. As soon as the boat floats it can be readily moved out of the cradle. When it is desired to use the swinging frame for towing boats it is to be lowered with the cradle E fastened back by the slides o, and the boats can then be attached to the eyes 70 at the ends of arms 0. To use the davits O in the ordinary manner, they are to be moved to their outward position, as shown in Fig. 3, which is permitted by pressing down the handles of the dogs I), thereby releasing the dogs from the lowerends of the davits, so that their upper ends can move outward The blocks 71 are to be removed from the books is on the frame E and connected with chains or eyebolts on the boat, and the boat thus swung from the davits in the ordinary manner, the cradle E remaining on deck to receive the boat.

This apparatus is without complicated parts liable to confuse or to get out of order. It occupies but little space on deck, and being combined with the ordinary davits, the objection that might arise to the use of the swinging frame in crowded streams and harbors is avoided.

The parts of the apparatus are to be made of any suitable material and constructed t combine lightness and strength.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim .as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of the swinging frame D, connected by cross-bars e'and attached by knuckle-joints d to the side of boat, the cradle E, having hooksff, hung to the outer ends of 2;

arms 0 by joint-pins g and connected at the outer ends by the cross-bar h, and the davits O 0, having blocks m, connected by ropes land block t with eyes 70 on the hooks f, as and for the purpose specified.

cradle E, having apertured lugsp on hooksf,

as and for the purpose specified.

REGINALD HEBER EARLE.

Witnesses:

GEO. D. WALKER, (J. SEDGWIOK. 

